Dispenser having a sanitary jacket



R. H. WOLF 2,935,236

.DISPENSER HAVING A SANITARY JACKET May 3, 1960 Filed Jan. 18, 1957 IN V EN TOR. Z9 W40/vp H WLF BY ML, yZ/f AM A from/5v5 nited States Patent() f' DISPENSER HAVING A SANITARY JACKET Raymond H. Wolf, Hubertus, Wis.

Application January 18, 1957, Serial No. 635,022

8 Claims. (Cl. 222-80) This invention relates to a dispenser having a sanitary jacket.

Pursuant to the present invention, table dispensers such as salt, pepper and sugar shakers, etc., are provided with sanitary multi-layer jackets with provision for removing the outer exposed layer successively as the dispenser is handled by dierent users.

The dispenser of the present invention has particular utility in restaurant use and it is contemplated that the outer exposed layer of the sanitary jacket be removed by the waitress after each patron using the dispenser has vacated the table. Accordingly, disease germs deposited on the dispenser by one patron cannot be transmitted to the next patron.

In the dispenser of the present invention .the outermost exposed layer of the multi-layer sanitary jacket is conveniently and easily removed and a fresh layer is automatically exposed in a simple easily performed stripping operation.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the jacket comprises a continuous web of jacket material which is wound into a spiral roll. The dispenser is provided with a spring pressed knife which bears against the outer surface of the roll and along which the outermost jacket layer may readily be torn oi.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent upon an examination of the following disclosure in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a dispenser embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical axial cross section taken through the dispenser of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a spirally fwound roll of jacket material.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of a modified embodiment of the invention.

The cylindrical dispenser wall encloses a reservoir 11 in which salt, pepper, sugar, etc., may be stored to be dispensed through the perforated cap `12. The wall 10 has an upper flange 13 with threads 14 on which corresponding threads on the cap 12 may be engaged to removably attach the cap to the ange. At its other end wall it) is provided with a base 15 which is annularly relieved to form a shoulder 16 against which the cylindrical sleeve portion 17 of bottom flange 18 seats. The base 15 is provided with a central tapped hole 19 in which a retaining bolt 2t? may be threaded to hold the bottom ange -18 against the base 15. The base 15 and flange 18 are desirably keyed together at 22 to insure alignment of knife guide channels 24, 25.

The wall 19 constitutes a mandrel to receive a roll 23 of spirally wound disposable jacket material, desirably paper or the like. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. l through 4, the jacket is rolled from a continuous web of tissue paper and the roll 23 may be ice inserted on mandrel 10 by removing end ange 18 therefrom and slipping the roll 23 axially over the mandrel.

Both end anges 13, 18 are provided with radially disposed channels 24, 25 in which end portions of the tearoif knife 26 are slidably guided when the dispenser is assembled as shown in Figs. l and 2. As aforesaid key 22 maintains the channels in axial alignment. To maintain the pressure of the knife 26 against the roll, springs 27 are disposed in the channels 24, 25 between the outer ends of the channels 24, 25 and the respective end portions of the knife 26. Accordingly, the knife 26 is maintained under pressure against the surface of the roll 23.

After a restaurant patron has vacated his table, the waitress or the next patron may withdraw the free end 28 of the roll 23 rearwardly from beneath the knife 26, unwrap the outer layer of the jacket roll for one complete turn and tear it off against the knife 26, thus disposing of the contaminated outer layer and exposing a fresh layer of the jacket material.

The device is most conveniently used simply by withdrawing the free end 28 of the roll rearwardly from beneath the knife as distinguished from rolling the roll about the body. Accordingly, I may provide the wall 10 with ribs 29 to anchor the roll against 4turning on the dispenser body.

While in the specific embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 4 the wall 10 and roll 23 are cylindrical, the geometry of the dispenser and roll is not critical. 'I'he cross section of the dispenser and roll may be square, triangular, elliptical, polygonal or any other geometric form at the makers option. Reference in the instant specication and claims to the roll being spirally wound is not intended to limit the roll to one having the circular cross section shown inthe drawing as this is for exemplication only. The term spiral roll as used herein broadly applies to any roll of a continuous web of jacket material, regardless of the specific geometric cross section thereof.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified embodiment in which the multiple layers of the jacket may consist of telescopically associated individual jackets 32, each jacket having a tear string 33 which may be manipulated to release the outermost jacket layer from the dispenser and expose a fresh jacket layer therebeneath.

I claim:

l. A sanitary dispenser for table use, comprising a reservoir having an opening through which dispenser contents are dispensed, a multi-layer sanitary jacket about said reservoir, the outermost layer of said jacket being exposed to the hand of a iirst user of said dispenser and by which said rst user may pick up the dispenser and manipulate it in a dispensing operation, said outermost layer being substantially the only part of the dispenser touched by the first users hand in the course of said manipulation, `and means facilitating the removal of said outermost layer from said jacket whereby to dispose of said outermost layer and expose a fresh layer of said jacket to the hand of a subsequent user of said dispenser whereby the subsequent user need not touch any part of the dispenser previously touched by the rst user.

2. The device of claim l in which said jacket comprises telescopically related jacket sleeves each having a tear string.

3. The device of claim l in which said multi-layer jacket comprises a spiral roll of jacket material, said means comprising a tear-o knife and resilient means biasing said knife against said roll.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said reservoir is provided with means anchoring said roll against turning with respect thereto.

5. A sanitary dispenser for table use, comprising a dispenser'rwall dening a reservoir having an openingA through which dispenser contents are dispensed, upper and lower anges on said Wall, a -spirally rolled multilayer'jacket on'Y said walland between said flanges, the' outer layer of rolled material being exposed to the hand of a rst user of said,V dispenser and by which said first user may pick up the, dispenser and manipulate it in a dispensing operation, said outermost layer being substantially the only part of the dispenser touched by the first users hand in the course of said manipulation, and means facilitating the removal of'saidr outer layer whereby to dispose of said outer layer and expose a fresh layer of said'rolled material to the hand of a subsequent user of said dispenser whereby the subsequent user need not touch any part of the dispenser previously touched by the irst user. Y

6. The device of claim 5 in which said body is provided with means anchoring said roll against turning with respect thereto.

7. The device of claim 5 in which said end flanges are provided with radial channels, springs mounted `in said channels and a tear-off knife having respective end portions slidably received in said channels and against which said springs bias said knife against said jacket roll.

8. The device of claim 7 in which one of said flanges is releasable from the dispenser wall to admit the jacket roll thereto, and means keying said flange to said wall to insure alignment of the lsaid channels when said flange is positioned on the wall.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

